It may not quite be as famous as its giant American namesake, but the tiny Queensland town of Texas is earning quite a reputation among grey nomads and other Outback travelling adventurers.
Some great scenic camping spots on the banks of the Dumaresq River help, of course, but it’s the history, the fascinating attractions, and the genuinely warm country welcome that help make this place so special.
Located on the border with New South Wales about an hour south east of Goondiwindi, the town – which has a population of less than 1,000 – was originally settled in the early 1840s.
It is widely believed that it took its name after a territorial dispute over some land in the area.
The historic Texas Rabbit Works. PIC: Rachel Walker / GRC
Once the ‘McDougall brothers’ won the legal argument, they named their property in an apparent nod to the significantly more famous dispute between the US and Mexico over the ownership of the state of Texas.
Cattle and sheep were initially farmed in the area and then, several different crops, before tobacco really changed the landscape.
The region’s fertile river flats grew good quality pipe tobacco, and a tobacco factory was opened in 1876. Workers from China and Italy arrived to work in the industry and tobacco farming remained important here up until about 40 years ago.
Texas Main Street. PIC: Rachel Walker / GRC
As the town grew, a cheese factory opened in 1909, and then a hospital in 1912, and a branch railway line from Inglewood finally opened in 1930 (it closed in 1994).
It certainly wasn’t all plain sailing though and Texas was hit with devastating floods in 1890 and 1921 which forced much of the town to be moved to higher ground. There are still a few remains of ‘Old Texas’ which can be spotted on the river flats.
Other notable floods also occurred in 1956 and as recently as 2011. Today, old tobacco barn relics can still be spotted along the fertile river flats, but the best place to get to grips with the role that tobacco has played here is to visit the impressive Texas Heritage Centre and Tobacco Museum which is located in the old Police Barracks which was built in 1890.
Another unique attraction is the Texas Rabbit Works, which really charts the importance of the feral rabbit industry both in Texas and in Australia. During the Great Depression, many people survived by trapping and selling rabbits. A rabbit processing works was built here in 1928 and, for many years while the creatures were in plague proportions, was processing 6,000 rabbits a day.
Texas also boasts a great art gallery, a craft shop, a collection of quality stores, fuel outlets and other services including a golf club, showground, and a racecourse.
Camping options include the Southern Border Accommodation Park and, just two kilometres south of town, is the spacious and scenic Texas Dumaresq River Rest Area where a 14-day limit is in place.
Another really popular option, about 16 kilometres to the south west, is the Goat Rock Camping area which is located on an 8,000 acre working sheep property. There’s plenty to keep grey nomads occupied in the area around Texas and it’s well worth a 10-minute drive out to the old silver mine at Silver Spur.
There’s also the Beacon Lookout about five minutes out of town, and some top spots on the river to enjoy including at the Bonshaw and Cunningham Weirs. If all that’s not enough, there are some great wineries in the area to investigate and, only 50 kilometres or so away, is the magnificent Glenlyon Dam and, a little further on, is the wonderful Sundown National Park.
No need to go to the US, this is Texas.
